Hawaii: Eat, drink, shop and zipline at Maui Tropical Plantation

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Kumu Farms cultivates more than 60 acres of produce on the Maui Tropical
Plantation and is open to the public at their stand Monday through Saturday.
(Photo: Jessica Yadegaran/Bay Area News Group)

An aerial view of Maui Tropical Plantation, a working plantation in Maui’s
lush Waikapu Valley that is home to The Mill House restaurant, Mill House
Roasting Co and Kumu Farms. (Photo: Maui Tropical Plantation)

The Mill House is a farm-to-table restaurant located on the Maui Tropical
Plantation in the lush Waikapu Valley on Maui. (Photo: Jessica Yadegaran/Bay
Area News Group)

The Mill House is a farm-to-table restaurant located on the Maui Tropical
Plantation, home to more than 40 harvested crops and hundreds of tropical
and native plants. (Photo: Jessica Yadegaran/Bay Area News Group)

The Mill House specializes in refined Hawaiian cuisine coupled with
spectacular views of the West Maui Mountains in Waikapu. (Photo: Maui
Tropical Plantation)

MAUI — This beloved Hawaiian island is known for its iconic destinations, from the famous resorts of Kaanapali Beach to the picturesque Road to Hana. But there’s a historic plantation in the lush yet lesser-known Waikapu Valley that offers unique new experiences all in once place.

Twenty miles east of Lahaina — yes, inland — Maui Tropical Plantation was once a hub for the island’s sugar-cane production. Today, it’s still a vibrant, working plantation, home to 60 acres of Kumu Farms organic produce and hundreds of native and tropical plants. It’s also a new destination for fine dining, shopping and eco-adventure.

DRINK: Mill House Roasting Co. & Cafe

The pour-over and pressed coffees ($2.50-$3) made in this full-service coffee house come from beans that are grown on the property and roasted in small batches inside the charming, converted red barn. Mill House Roasting also offers espresso drinks ($3-$4.75), nitro cold brew ($5) and kombucha on tap ($6-$7.75). Open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. daily.

PLAY: Tropical Tram Tour

The bright green Express Tram takes you through the private grounds of the Maui Tropical Plantation, where you’ll see hundreds of native Hawaiian plants, tropical fruits and row crops. Tours run every hour, on the hour, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. Tickets ($20 for adults and $10 for kids ages 3 to 12) are available at the Nut Roasting Kiosk or inside the Country Store.

EAT: The Mill House

Executive chef Jeff Scheer — Maui Magazine’s 2015 Aipono Award winner for best chef — helms the kitchen at this micro-seasonal fine dining restaurant, where the majority of ingredients are grown or raised yards from your table. Take in the sparkling lagoon, towering West Maui Mountains and taro fields as you enjoy stunning taro leaf risotto ($8) or fresh, tender ceviche ($16). Open daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations: www.millhousemaui.com.

PLAY: Maui Zipline

Soar above the scenic plantation on this kid-friendly tandem zip line, which overlooks the tropical gardens and lush valley isle. You’ll get a bird’s eye view of the Haleakala volcano, West Maui Mountains and the rugged coastline, while guides share facts about Maui’s unique flora and fauna. The five zip lines, which range from 300 to 900 feet, are suitable for ages 5 and older. $110; www.mauizipline.com.

Feeling more extreme? Book with Flyin Hawaiian Zipline, which offers eight zip lines stretching 250 to 3,600 feet across the West Maui Mountains. $185; www.flyinhawaiianzipline.com.

SHOP: Kumu Farms

Kumu Farms cultivates more than 35 organic crops on the plantation, from winter savory and apple bananas to their famous non-GMO SunRise Papayas, which are so tasty you’ll want to ship a few home to the mainland. In addition to fresh produce, the stand sells locally-produced candies and bath products. You’ll spot the shop on the right as you enter the plantation. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

If You Go

Maui Tropical Plantation is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily at 1670 Honoapi’ilani Highway in Waikapu. Admission is free and you can take a self-guided walking tour by downloading the free Guidebook App via Apple or Android, which contains information about the plantation’s history, plants and wildlife. You can also find the guidebook at www.mauitropicalplantation.com.

Jessica Yadegaran is a writer and editor for the Bay Area News Group's Eat Drink Play section, which is devoted to all things food, wine, cocktails, and travel. She also spent two years in the Pacific Northwest as the food and dining editor for Seattle magazine. Yadegaran has a degree in journalism from San Diego State University and has been with the Bay Area News Group for more than 10 years.

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